Firefighters rescue man from abandoned 35-foot well

Rescue crews lower a firefighter into a well in Portrero, Calif., to rescue a man who had fallen inside.

By Monica Garske and Chris Chan, NBCSanDiego.com

SAN DIEGO -- Fire crews rushed to the Potrero community in San Diego’s Mountain Empire area Sunday afternoon to rescue a man who had fallen down a 35-foot well.

According to Cal Fire Capt. Mike Mohler, the victim fell down the 35-foot hole in the 1300 block of Potrero Circle at around 4:15 p.m. local time (7:15 p.m. ET). The fall knocked the man unconscious, Mohler said.

Rescue crews set up a tripod above the well and lowered a firefighter into the hole to rescue the 42-year-old man. He was pulled from the well at around 6:18 p.m. (9:18 p.m. ET), Mohler said.

An air ambulance transported the victim to a local trauma center. Mohler said the man's exact condition was not known, but he was likely in serious or moderate condition because of the length of the fall.